Daystar University (DU)

Founded in 1969 by Dr. Donald K. Smith and Motsoko Peko as Daystar Communications, a Christian media organisation, Daystar University was chartered in 2014. Located in Athi River, Machakos County, with a Nairobi campus, Daystar serves over 6,000 students.

The university operates seven schools including Communication, Arts and Humanities, Science Engineering and Health, Applied Human Sciences, Business and Economics, Education, and Theology. Its School of Communication is widely regarded as Kenya's premier journalism and media training institution.

Accredited by CUE and the Council of Legal Education (CLE), the institution ranks 20th nationally. Its Christian foundation and media heritage make it the preferred university for students seeking faith-based education with professional communication and journalism training in Kenya.

Daystar University's research focuses on communication, media, development, and theology, with an emphasis on applied research that addresses societal challenges through a Christian worldview. The School of Communication advances research on media ethics, development communication, and the role of faith-based media in African societies, while the School of Arts and Humanities investigates cultural studies, theology, and social transformation. Partnerships with Taylor University and Asbury University (USA) support faculty exchange and collaborative research in communication and theology, while collaboration with the Media Development Authority and the World Association for Christian Communication strengthens media research capacity. The School of Business and Economics researches social entrepreneurship and faith-based business models, while the School of Science, Engineering and Health advances research on public health and community development. Research output increasingly informs church policy, media practice, and community development initiatives across Kenya and the wider East African region, bridging academic inquiry with Christian service.

A C+ mean grade is the minimum for a Bachelor's degree; competitive programmes (medicine, engineering, law, nursing, architecture) require higher grades and specific KCSE subject clusters. Master's programmes require a relevant Bachelor's degree; PhD programmes a relevant Master's degree.